INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITY KINGS COLLEGE Program: MBA Semester: IV Course Title: Research Methodology

Course Description This course has been designed keeping in view the professional learning needs of the management graduates by empowering their knowledge, skill and competence to understand, design and execute a research and research-based project in a more systematic and objective manner. The course covers basic understanding of research process, alternative approaches of research and its designs, understanding the sampling techniques and taking relevant sampling decisions, determining the different sources and techniques of data collection, development and testing of data collection instruments. Besides this, the course also provides opportunity to learn with practice the process of data preparation, analysis and report writing. Course Objectives After the completion of this course, the participating graduates will be able to -a. identify the issues worth research, b. establish relevant research approach and design as per the need of the context, c. perform sampling decisions, d. develop and perform the validity and reliability tests of the data collection instruments, e. administer the research, f. perform data processing and analysis, g. develop research report, make a presentation and incorporate client feedback, and h. produce the final report in specific following structure. Course Details and Session Planning Unit Titles Subtitles of thematic s contents I Research in 1. Meaning and importance Perspectives of research in corporate life 2. Applications of research in business 3. Classification of types of research 4. Research process 5. Theoretical perspectives in research designs 6. Guidelines for conducting Thesis Research and Internship Project Sessi Remarks ons 1 Lecture and class discussions 2 3 4-5 Collective discussions on Thesis Research and Internship Project Guidelines of Kings College

Developed for Kings College, Kathmandu Nepal, by C P Rijal, PhD

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II

Linking Literature and Research

7. Basic principles of performing review of literature 8. Performing text citation 9. Preparing bibliography and list of references Assessment: Term I 10. Exploration of research gap 11. Selecting and defining the research problem 12. Selecting the research methods and approaches 13. Alternative research designs and their interdependence 14. Defining the population 15. Establishing the units of observation 16. Developing sampling frames 17. Determining the census and sampling decisions 18. Determining the sample size 19. Various approaches of data collection 20. Development and testing of data collection tools 21. Establishing mechanism for research administration and quality control 22. Establishing work schedule and budgeting 23. Features of an effective research proposal Assessment: Term II 24. Administration of research project 25. Basic features and applications of SPSS in data preparation and analysis 26. Establishing data entry sheets in SPSS

6-7 Guided lectures supported by evidencebased teaching learning

III

Designing the Research

8-9 Establish problems for exploration in your proposed Thesis Research and Internship Project 10 Establish approaches in your proposed Thesis Research and Internship Project 11-12 Apply the selected designs in your proposed Thesis Research and Internship Project 13-14 Apply it for your proposed Thesis Research and Internship Project

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17-19 Develop your data collection instruments for proposed projects 20 Replicate it in your proposed projects 21-22 Develop the work schedules for your proposed projects 23-24 Make presentations on your final proposals for Thesis Research and Internship Project 25-26 Class lecture 27 Computer lab-based practical works 28 Page 2

IV V

Fielding the Research Data Processing and Analysis

Developed for Kings College, Kathmandu Nepal, by C P Rijal, PhD

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Preparing the Research Report Understandi ng the Ethical Consideratio ns in Research

VII

27. Performing data analysis using large scale research data 28. Developing the first draft, edit the report, making a presentation and incorporating feedback and producing final report for submission 29. Considerations of ethics on research design, administration, treating the various agencies involved, and reporting of facts and figures

29-30 31-33 Make a presentation of your project report drafts

34 Closing lectures by the course facilitator

Expected outcomes:
After the completion of this course under my supervision, I expect you to be on the lead to independently design, execute and maintain quality control of a research project. More importantly, you will accomplish your Internship Project and Thesis Research with confidence. Dr Rijal

Developed for Kings College, Kathmandu Nepal, by C P Rijal, PhD

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Evaluation Criteria and Allocation of Weightage for Research Methodology Type of Activities Total Final Evaluation Marks Weightage Internal 1. Class participation and 100 management research aptitude audit 2. Thematic presentation (group) 50 3. Term examinations (2 x 100) 200 4. Design of internship project 50 (individual) 5. Design of thesis project 100 (individual) Total 500 40% External Semester-end examinations 100 60% Grand Total 500 100% Evaluation Criteria of Internship Project Report S Particulars N 1 Project design 2 Innovation and creative thinking 3 Situation analysis 4 Problem exploration 5 Exploration of problem solution 6 Study conclusions 7 Recommendations 8 Documentation and formatting Grand Total Evaluation Criteria of Thesis Research Report S Particulars N 1 Relevance and innovativeness of research idea 2 Research gap analysis 3 Problem definitions 4 Research designs 5 Population definition and sampling strategies 6 Instrumentation Total Marks 15 10 10 10 15 10 10 20 100 Total Marks 5 5 15 15 15 10 Marks Obtain ed Marks Obtain ed

Developed for Kings College, Kathmandu Nepal, by C P Rijal, PhD

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7 Data processing and analysis 8 Production of discussions 9 Study conclusions 10 Recommendations 11 Overall explicability and impression Grand Total Semester Plan (MBA: IV) SN Activities o 1 Commencement of semester 2 Placement in internship project 3 Approval of thesis research and internship project designs 4 Completion of thematic teaching learning of the semester 5 Submission of final draft of Internship Project 6 Final presentation and submission of Internship Project 7 Final examinations 8 Submission of final draft of Thesis Research 9 Final presentation and submission of Thesis Research 10 Convocation documentation release Tentative Datelines May 15, 2011 June 15, 2011 June 30, 2011 August 15, 2011 August 31, 2011 September 2-5, 2011 September 8-14, 2011 September 25-30, 2011 October 20-25, 2011 December 10, 2011

15 5 5 5 5 100 Remarks

Needs university consultation

Basic Textbooks 1. Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2003). Business Research Methods. (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill/Irwin: ND. 2. Malhotra, N., & Dash, S. (2010). Marketing Research: An Applied Approach. PHI: ND.

Developed for Kings College, Kathmandu Nepal, by C P Rijal, PhD

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In-semester Performance Evaluation Sheet

ID Name of the Student Participatio n and Manageme nt Research aptitude 100 Thematic Presentati on Evaluation Ter Ter m m Exa Exa mI m II 100 100 Activities Internsh ip Project Design 50 Thesis Resear ch Design 100 Full Mark s Conversi on

50

500

40

Signed by:

Date:

Developed for Kings College, Kathmandu Nepal, by C P Rijal, PhD

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